For non-Latin Americans and for Latin Americans who have travelled a little. What are some unmistakable hints and signs which tell you that you are in Latin America.

Here are some of mine:

1. 9 times out of 10, toilet seats never stand still in their upright position. You know how you have to lift up the toilet seat before you pee? (Well, you should, at least, if you're not doing it already). Well I gave that up long time ago since I arrived in Latin America. Them toilet seats never stay up straignt! It always falls and make a big bang. I don't know why it's so hard to make toilet seats that stay up straight and still. So I said to myself...you know what? Just forget it.
By the way, I owe this idea to Latinplane, my good friend on a.net.

2. People automatically assume that your money is fake. Whether you're paying for something or receiving change, it's almost an instinct that one verify one's change, espcially with large bills. Most recently, here in Argenitna, I learned that there are even FAKE COINS! Like coins of petty amount like 25, 50 Argentine cents? Even those things can be fake. I had this merchant testing my coins with a magnet. He told me "If it sticks to the magnet, then it's fake." What the f-? That really shows that however European Argentina is, it's still an inescapable part of Latin America.

Now that I look back, discerning counterfeit money has become my SECOND instinct! Not that there isn't counterfeit money in other countries; but it's just so prevalent in Latin America. In the U.S., no one worries too much to check if one's bills are fake. I mean it happens but very rarely. Even less developed Asian countries in Asia like Thailand (whose crime rate and drug rings are no less notorious than in Latin America), you don't spend your energy verifying your change in every transaction.

3. Everywhere you go, you are assumed guilty before proven innocent. You are assumed villain before proven before proven a protagonist. They always think you're a thief first. Houses and stores are locked with maximum security. When you have to go into a store or a restaurant, you have to ring and then wait for them to see if you're not a thief. If they see that you're not a thief, they let you in. If you wear less than decent clothes, they kinda have to probe to see what it is that you want to buy or to get, and if you would have enough money to pay. It just sucks. Nobody trusts anybody in this continent. Everybody is everybody else's enemy. There is no solidarity. This has got to change, really.

Anything else anyone could relate to and would like to add to this list? And please don't get me wrong...the purpose of this thread is not to provoke but to elucidate. Trust me, I love Latin America with all my heart. If I'm critical, it's out of love. And trust me, "the opposite of love is not hate. It's indifference." (Quoting Brie from Desperate Housewives)

Quoting ThaiboynMexico (Thread starter):3. Everywhere you go, you are assumed guilty before proven innocent. You are assumed villain before proven before proven a protagonist. They always think you're a thief first. Houses and stores are locked with maximum security. When you have to go into a store or a restaurant, you have to ring and then wait for them to see if you're not a thief. If they see that you're not a thief, they let you in. If you wear less than decent clothes, they kinda have to probe to see what it is that you want to buy or to get, and if you would have enough money to pay. It just sucks. Nobody trusts anybody in this continent. Everybody is everybody else's enemy. There is no solidarity. This has got to change, really.

I have, in 15 years pluse or there abouts living in Argentina, ever encountered one restaurant that was locked or in which customers had to 'ring or knock' to get in.... In fact it is the fist time in my entire life I hear something like this, anywhere.

Quoting Aloges (Reply 3):And how on Mother Earth did a freakin' toilet seat become a number one seat for being in Latin America?!?

Not sure what you mean...

But since I don't use toilets pretty much anywhere outside my house (unless it is a high end anchor store at a shopping mall, no matter what continent, they are clean and good to go! LOL), I would have to say Thayboy might be right about #1, ha!

Quoting ThaiboynMexico (Thread starter):3. Everywhere you go, you are assumed guilty before proven innocent. You are assumed villain before proven before proven a protagonist. They always think you're a thief first. Houses and stores are locked with maximum security. When you have to go into a store or a restaurant, you have to ring and then wait for them to see if you're not a thief.

You do? I lived in Sao Paulo for most of my life and the only place I ever had to ring to get in was the rare occasion that I went into an H. Stern jewelry store with my mom. Never heard of this for restaurants...

As for toilet seats, WTF? To be honest, I'm not going to waste my time trying to remember every toilet I went to when I lived there but even if you don't need the seat you can still pee with it in the down position, what's the problem with that? This is a non-issue anywhere in the world.

Well, then you are going to the better parts of LatAm! I spent parts of my childhood peeing outdoors, even though our beach house had a working toilet. Took me years to learn to use bathrooms in other places rather than our house, on account that other restrooms can be so filthy, or a hole in the ground.

You know you are in LatAm, when you dont see people wearing jewelry while out on the streets, unless they want them stolen.

Quoting ThaiboynMexico (Thread starter):
3. Everywhere you go, you are assumed guilty before proven innocent. You are assumed villain before proven before proven a protagonist. They always think you're a thief first. Houses and stores are locked with maximum security. When you have to go into a store or a restaurant, you have to ring and then wait for them to see if you're not a thief. If they see that you're not a thief, they let you in. If you wear less than decent clothes, they kinda have to probe to see what it is that you want to buy or to get, and if you would have enough money to pay. It just sucks. Nobody trusts anybody in this continent. Everybody is everybody else's enemy. There is no solidarity. This has got to change, really.

Where does that happen? I have never encountered such a thing anywhere in Argentina. Same as Derico, it's the first time I heard about it.

I would also add food sold by vendors on street corners, great customer service, waste baskets next to the toilets, (onboard to Latin America) mothers asking for coke (with extra packets of sugar sometimes) or coffee with milk and 5+ packets of sugar for their child's bottle. The list could go on.

I haven't found any of the original three to be true personally, but here's a few:

1. Applause from all on board the a/c when the wheels touch down.
2. Rent a cops who are more heavily armed than the real cops. Of course they may not know how to use the weapon or even have it loaded.
3. As has been noted, great street food.
4. Multiple classes of travel for buses as well as aircraft.

Quote:I have, in 15 years pluse or there abouts living in Argentina, ever encountered one restaurant that was locked or in which customers had to 'ring or knock' to get in.... In fact it is the fist time in my entire life I hear something like this, anywhere.

Quote:Where does that happen? I have never encountered such a thing anywhere in Argentina. Same as Derico, it's the first time I heard about it.

Sorry I wasn't clear folks. I didn't say that this was specific to Argentina. But I experienced most of these security concerns in Mexico. And, in Buenos Aires, there are many restaurants in San Telmo and some in Palermo Viejo that operate on "buzzed-in" basis as well. And at some upscale restaurants or boutiques, when there are no secured doors, there are security guards surveying standing in front of the premises, telling you not to bring in your bags or handbags or whatever. And it's just really annoying.

But may be this is because I am not white. And it really assaults my self-esteem to tell you the truth.

Quoting BHMBAGLOCK (Reply 11):1. Applause from all on board the a/c when the wheels touch down.

This has been quoted often, but I have yet to be in such a flight. Maybe it happens in planes full of ethnical travelers

Quoting ThaiboynMexico (Thread starter):3. Everywhere you go, you are assumed guilty before proven innocent. You are assumed villain before proven before proven a protagonist. They always think you're a thief first. Houses and stores are locked with maximum security.

And for good reason. Thank good ol' Carlos Salinas for screwing the economy and peaceful environment we enjoyed prior to 1995... Yes, Mexico City(and most of Mexico) was WAAAAAAY more peaceful back then, car thefth was unusual and secuestro(can't remember the English word) and Narco vendettas were almost unheard of.

Can't say I can relate to anything on the list...but a good sign you're in Latin America is that when you leave the airport, you have to show your passport to at least 6 different people before you can even get to the gate.

Quoting BHMBAGLOCK (Reply 11):2. Rent a cops who are more heavily armed than the real cops.

Quoting BHMBAGLOCK (Reply 15):Quoting AM744 (Reply 13):
This has been quoted often, but I have yet to be in such a flight. Maybe it happens in planes full of ethnical travelers

It definitely happens in South America. Freaked me out a bit the first time as nobody had bothered to give me a heads up. After 30-40 flights you take it in stride and even join in.

I've experienced this several times on domestic flights in South America and Central America. I've also experience here at home in Canada a few times.

Last month I was on a charter flight from Cuba to Toronto and I would say 99.9% Canadians on board. I don't think there were any Cubans. Everyone clapped when we landed in Cuba on the outbound and everyone clapped when we landed in Toronto on the inbound.

Len,
At least in Argentina, during my flights to and from Buenos Aires, I didn't hear any clapping, fortunately!

Quoting ThaiboynMexico (Reply 12):Sorry I wasn't clear folks. I didn't say that this was specific to Argentina. But I experienced most of these security concerns in Mexico. And, in Buenos Aires, there are many restaurants in San Telmo and some in Palermo Viejo that operate on "buzzed-in" basis as well. And at some upscale restaurants or boutiques, when there are no secured doors, there are security guards surveying standing in front of the premises, telling you not to bring in your bags or handbags or whatever. And it's just really annoying.

That's because wealthy or powerful people or even TV jetset go there. That poses a huge amount of risk. Or maybe, the owners are just 'fantasticos', but really, Rye, you've seen it once or twice. You KNOW it's not the way it is here.

Quoting ThaiboynMexico (Reply 12):But may be this is because I am not white. And it really assaults my self-esteem to tell you the truth.

Have you ever read Apollo's comments on his visit to Buenos Aires? He was always asked for Directions as if he was a local. Now, there's a much larger Asian community. There shouldn't be a racial problem.

Cheers!
Gastón - The MD11junkie

There is no such thing as Boeing vs Airbus as the queen of the skies has three engines, winglets and the sweetest nose!

Quoting ThaiboynMexico (Reply 12):But may be this is because I am not white. And it really assaults my self-esteem to tell you the truth.

I really hope not, as in Argentina the 'white-non white' thing was never such a divisive issue as in other countries. Specially since the line is not as clear (some very light mestizos could pass for white, and many whites in Argentina are very mediterranean as supposed to blond nordic, though there are quite a few blonds, and redheads too).

But if you go to really upscale restaurants, you will find security guards. It is a combination of a sense of increased crime (which is true, but it's not as bad as in many other countries), but also when it comes to entertainment and leisure in Argentina are not as segregated still as in Brazil, Mexico, or the United States where the rich attend restaurants, boutiques, etc in mostly segregated very upscale enclaves.

If you think it was racism, you should report it to the Tourism Authority in BA. They are taking racism and taking advantage of tourists very seriously now.

My internet was not shut down, the internet has shut me down

25 ThaiboynMexico
: Huh, what a passionate discussion. This was supposed to be a light-hearted discussion. I guess I should tone down my drama-queen language in the futur

26 Derico
: I don't think the discussion was remotely passionate! Well, at least for me. I don't think it's heated at all, just an exchange of views...

27 Carmenlu15
: Indeed... I find it interesting to see the different points of view in a subject like this, to which we can relate in a way or other...

28 CastleIsland
: If you're using a thong to select your baked goods, perhaps the Board of Health should be involved.

29 AndesSMF
: You know you are in LatAm when: The government OFFICIALLY declares 1/2 day so people can go home and watch Ecuador defeat Poland! (This is true!)

30 Latinplane
: You did? What the hell... Oh, yeah! I forgot that you're a writer! And I forgot that I need to watch out what I say when I'm around you because you pa

31 Latinplane
: Please allow me to answer these two post, specifically answering them, and dedicating them accordingly: Almost every place in Latin America that I've

32 Latinplane
: Right. And, as much as Argentines used to think that they were more European than Latin American, recent genetic studies have concluded that in fact,

33 Derico
: That is the case all over the new world. North Americans are not pure European either as many of them have some native american ancestor, and quite a

34 Latinplane
: That is something that is widely accepted. I have never heard a Caucasian- American deny his Native American background. As a matter of fact, Caucasi

35 Marcus
: Quoting Boeinglover24 (Reply 8): The toilet water spins the other way when you flush... As long as you're south of the equator Latin America. ********

36 ThaiboynMexico
: Latinplane, It took me three years and half living here to come up with 3-4 stupid criteria that make Latin America Latin America, most of which I cou

37 AndesSMF
: Well, I do have video taken from the middle of the world showing that the water does indeed spin in different ways according to the hemisphere you ar